Stop for slide fasteners



Dec. 1, 1953 L. M. DORMAN 2,660,773

STOP FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed March 7, 1951 kiW i L lf/ I N V EN TOR. Max w M fiO/QMAW Patented Dec. 1, 1953 sror FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Leonard M. Dorman, Meadville, Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,298

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners, and particularly to an improved stop therefor.

In certain applications of slide fasteners, such as, for example, in flyin suits and the like, it is often necessary, particularly in the case of an emergency, for the wearer to get out of the suit as quickly as possible. In order to accomplish this, there should be provided a quick opening for the fastener, and such a fastener is sometimes called the quick releasing type. Such rapid opening is best obtained by providing means whereby the stringer tapes will separate automatically when subjected to lateral pull at the closing end of the fastener, and it is to such a means that the present invention relates.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved means whereby the slider may be readily removed from one of the stringers when it is desired to separate them, thereby permitting the stringers to become disengaged by a lateral pull.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means which acts as a stop member in ordinary use of the fastener, but which is adapted to pass through the slider when the same is subjected to an excessive pulling force, thereby permitting the fastener tapes to be separated by a lateral pull.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved stop member for slide fasteners which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and, at the same time, eflicient and eifective in its use.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a stop member which is securely molded to the stringers so as not to be accidentally displaced trerefrom and, at the same time, permits the slider to pass to a position therebeyond.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener having the improved stop means of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the upper end of the fastener, as shown in Fig. 1, showing the fastener in its normally closed position:

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the slider moved above the stop member and disengaged therefrom so as to permit opening of the fastener by a lateral tearing action on the stringers;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 5; and

5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a conventional type slide fastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes ,2 and 3 having a series of interlocking fastener elements 4 attached to the opposed beaded edges thereof. There is arranged on the fastener elements, a slider 5 for longitudinal movement therealong to open and close the fastener in a well-known manner. Such a slider consists generally of a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower wing portions 6 and '1, respectively, connected by a neck portion 3 and having inwardly extending marginal flanges 9 which diverge at the upper end of the slider and converge at the lower end thereof so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel in the slider. There is carried by the upper wing 6, preferably a suitable lug ii] to which 2.

- pull member i2 is pivotally attached for manipulating the slider.

In the fastener shown, the fastener elements together with other component parts thereof are preferably molded to the stringer tapes from a material such as nylon, but may be made of metal or any other suitable material.

On the upper or closing end of the stringer l, there is arranged a stop member [3 which is adapted to prevent removal of the slider from the top end of this stringer. While any conventional type of stop member may be used, the construction shown consists of a pair of inverted substantially J-shaped members preferably arranged integral with the two endmost fastener elements 4a disposed on either side of the tape directly opposite one another. These members are connected to these two endmost fastener. elements 4a by means of relatively thin web portions l 4 which lie directly next to the tape. Such a construction provides a longitudinal extendmg open ended recess in each side of the stop, as at It, which acts as a track for the flanges at the upper end of the slider. In other words, the main leg portion of the stop member is spaced from the outer ends of the two endmost fastened elements 40: a distance slightly'greater than the thickness of the flanges so as to provide this track which acts as a guide for the flanges to seat the slider in the stop. It will be seen that the fastener elements on the stringer 2 to which the stop member I3 is attached extend beyond the fastener elements of the opposed stringer 3 or, in other Words, one stringer is longer than the other for a purpose hereinafter tobedescribed.

According to the present invention, there is arranged on the upper end of the stringer 3 directly opposite the endmost fastener element 4b of this stringer, a stop member l6 for normally preventing unintentional movement of the slider along the fastener elements in a closing direction. This stop member consists of a pair of substantially rectangular-shaped abutment members IT having rounded corners and arranged directly opposite one another on opposite sides of the stringer tape 3. Both of the-abutment members.

I? are preferably molded integral with the endmost fastener element 419 and. integrally connected thereto by means of opposed relatively thin web portions i8 disposed directly nextto the tape on either side thereof. These abutment members -I;l--a r -e preferably molded to the tape at the-same timerthefastener elements are molded theretof The Web connecting portions serve an important function in that they maintain the abutment members at all times in exact spaced relation from the-outer .-en,d of 'the endmost fastener element. In other Words, by providingsuch a eonstruetion the abutment members will not be forced outwardly away from the fastener elements after. aperiodof use due to any stretching of thestringer tape ,3,

he inner sidewalls ofqbolth-of these abutment membersslil are ,spacedfrom the outer end of the endmost fastener element 4b a distance slightly reater than the thickness of the marginal flanges 9.of Etheslider so as to provide a space therebetvveen through which the flanges. pass I and are oppositely beveled, as at t9; for a purpose hereinafter ,to bedescribed. Itwill be seen that theseabi tment members areof such length that thera e ev ed em a sin rm lly alon h eee re eins por ion efathe l der ue to the angle in the. flanges between the converging and diverging portions of the slider, as. clearly shown 4'; n other Wer a utm nt mem ers tend to bind on the flanges of H19. slider at-the angnlar portion thereof so as to prevent the abutmentmembe m ga s n a e nd, the, angle w e he e icle eper ed n orm manner e 'elvtq les e he a t ner, n isbimlineac- 111011 of eeer bl fime nt.me bers. en prevents further. unintentional, movement of the slider le, g the f st nerr mems na elein .'..dir ction.

". .f.', .d d toppe uick y, h fastener lon the .en Ehe h f h fa ne a xc.es-.

sivepulling'force is applied to the slider in, the. closing jdirelction whichresults in the beveled side; wallsf fit e g utmen mem ers l..bearinga ain t "theu r ges. eflen es .9 on that members, As a result it will beseen-thattheslider passes off the. rend of the shorterstringer 3 and isg freie" thereof but is retained Qngthe .upper end of the longer stringer 2 by meansgf thestop, member L The fa t r n o beea ilyandi u etly op ned me ely y applyingaiateral tea ingfaeti'on .to the upper ends ofoneor both'of the; stringers, as shown in Fig. 3 oi the drawings, eed'the. fastener m etwi lautomatically dish 75 1 i engage from each other thereby providing a quick opening of the fastener.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a relatively inexpensive stop member for this type of fastener which can be molded directly to the stringer so as to be an integral part thereof thereby tending to eliminate any danger of displacement of the same from the stringer; Also, this stop member has a. neat appearance and willfunction readily at all times for its intended purpose.

-While I have shown and described an embodiment .whieh my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the :purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within. the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a slide fastener of the class described, ncludin a. pair. air-s rin ers having a. series. f spaced-apart; interlocking fastener elements ar ranged along the topposed; ed es. thereof, and-zaslider for-engaging and; disengaging; the fastener elements haying spaced apa zt wing portions conneeted-by-a vneclepontion and. marginal. flanges;

so; as to define an interior diverging channel, a,

stop melnber normally adapted to -prevent move-- mer t-of the slider along theiastener elements in.

a .closing tdirection, saidstop comprising. an abut-- ment member .carried by, onegflof said. stringers.

having wedging means .arrangedon .the innergside thereof. engageable with the outside-surfaceof.

thefiaiiges adjacent the converging portion of;

said slider, saidlwedging means beingspaced from the outer ends ,of said fastener elements a distance:

slightly greater .thantherthicknessoi saidfl n ea, and cooperable withsaidrconyerg-ing portionfor:v preventing unintentionalclosing movement, of; said slider, .s aid wedging. means Q adapted to. be,

forced between saidfl l es atsaid. Converging portion when; the abutmentimember is, positioned. adjacent said convergingportion-so as to spread. slightly.- the:- Wings -.of said sliderwhen the. slider; is sub i ected; to an -excessive pulling foroe in the,

closing ldireetioi -so-.that= the slider is permitted= to; pass to a; posi-tion therebeyond whereby the-- fastener elements may be disengagedby sub: jecting the stringers to a tearing action.

2. The combination as; defined in claim., 1; wherein the -stqp memberconsists=of a pairof substantiaiiy reetangplarr-shaped abutment .mem-

bers arranged directly opposite one another on opposite sidesof one of the-stringers.

, 3.;The, combination; as defined inclaim. 1,; wherein the stop-member consists; of -a .substantially rectangular shaped abutment member carried by one-pf ther; stringers and spaced from the,

series of fastener elements carried thereby a-distance slightly greater than the thickness- 0f the flanges of the sliderande being ofsuch length-- atit is rev nt drn m l y f om p ss ele e the c nvergin porticn ofthe lider.

4. -The,,. cornbination-=- as defined; in claim. 1,

=.-wherein ,the.-;.stop member consi ts, ofa'pair of.

g,ried thereby a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness 9f the flanges .Of the slider, each .of'said abutment members beingpf. such-length so asito. pr v nt th s me :frempassingnormall along.

hei onver in .p rtion ofthe slider-n 5r. The .combinatiom as defined in: claim; 1,-

wherein the abutment member is molded to the stringer and arranged opposite the endmost fastener element carried thereby and integral therewith by means of a relatively thin connecting web portion disposed directly next to the tape.

6. In a slide fastener of the class described, including a pair of stringers having a series of spaced-apart interlocking fastener elements arranged along the opposed edges thereof, and a slider for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements having spaced-apart wing portions connected by a neck portion and marginal flanges so as to define an interior diverging channel, a stop member normally adapted to prevent movement of the slider along the fastener elements in a closing direction, said stop comprising an abutment member carried by one of the said stringers and spaced from the outer ends of said fastener elements a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the flanges and engageable with the outside surface of the flanges adjacent the converging portion of said slider and cooperable therewith for preventing unintentional closing movement of said slider, said abutment member having a beveled surface arranged on the inner side thereof which is engageable with the flanges of said slider, said beveled surface adapted to be forced between said flanges when the abutment member is positioned adjacent the converging portion so as to spread slightly the slider wings when the slider is subjected to an excessive pulling force in the closing direction so that the slider is permitted to pass to a position therebeyond whereby the fastener elements may be disengaged by subjecting the stringers to a tearing action.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the abutment member is arranged opposite the endmost fastener element and integral therewith by means of a relatively thin connecting portion.

LEONARD M. DORMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,325,305 Carlile July 27, 1943 2,381,359 Mikulas Aug. '7, 1945 2,438,614 Morin Mar. 30, 1948 2,535,504 Morin Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 640,618 France of 1928 

